Apparatus for distributing solid fuel and the like



Oct. m; 1944.

C. R. BARR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOLID FUEL AND THE LIKE Filed May1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 4 @W Gd. 1%, 1944. c, BARR 2,359,887

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOLID FUEL AND THE LIKE Filed May 1, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 10, 1944 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOLID FUEL AND THELIKE.

Charles R. Barr, Pittsburgh, Pa. I

Application May 1, 1942, Serial No. 441,262

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in method of andapparatus for stoking solid fuels or for feeding lump or powderousmaterials over a substantially wide surface area, and the instantapplication is a continuation in part of an application seriallynumbered 357,127 filed September 17, 1940. In the aforementionedapplication is described a fuel stoker and method of feeding fuelwherein and whereby the fuel is fed in measured increments and bysuccessive charges transversely of a divergent blast, whereby it isdistributed uniformly over the fire bed area.

The present application deals specifically with the construction of theblast nozzles and their disposition relative to a distributor plate toeffect the desired distribution of the fuel.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of theaccompanying drawings constituting a part hereof in which like referencecharacters designate like parts and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical cross-section partially cut away of a fire box andstoker embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 a top plan view diagrammatically illustrating the distribution ofthe fuel over the fire box area;

Fig. 3 a view in perspective of the fire box end of the stoker feedmechanism;

Fig. 4 a vertical cross-section partially in elevation of a steam box,nozzle and valve;

Fig. 5 a front elevational view of a blast nozzle; and

Fig. 6 a top plan view of the stoker paddle, distributor plate and blastnozzle arrangement.

In the aforementioned co-pending application, the operation of thestoker is described as feeding the fuel into a divergent blast bymeasured fuel charges delivered successively at different pointstransversely of the blast.

The present application deals primarily with the stoker features andadjustability of the blast nozzles and their relation to the distributorplate and fuel to effect proper distribution throughout the fire boxarea.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral l designates a wall of a fire boxof rectangular or other shape having a grate generally designated by thenumeral 2 with movable grate bars 3, the grat forming no part of thepresent invention.

Mounted exteriorly of the fire box and adjacent an opening 4 thereof isa stoker comprising a hopper-shaped casting 5 having a flange 6 by whichit is clamped to the wall of the fire box, and having an opening 1through which the fuel is fed by a paddle wheel generally designated bythe numeral 8 onto a distributor plate 9.

A steam box 10 is provided below the paddle wheel. The distributor platecasting 5* is provided with openings ll, Fig. 3, through which aplurality of nozzles 12 project. Each nozzle is provided with aregulating valve 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

The structural features of the blast nozzles l2 are more clearly shownin Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The nozzle itself consists of aspherical body portion l4 having a nozzle end IS with an elongated slotor opening l6, as shown in Fig. 5. This portion is made of Stainlesssteel to prevent corrosion and to resist the cooling elfect of theblast.

The spherical body portion I4 is mounted in a union consisting of athreaded shank I! that is screwed in a wall of the steam box I!) havinga flange portion l8 with a seat IQ of the same radius as the bodyportion I4. The flange I8 is threaded to interact with the thread of asleeve nut 20 having a radius 2| corresponding to that of the bodyportion I4, the surfaces I9 and 2|, when assembled, constituting asocket portion for engaging the nozzle. By loosening the ring nut 20,the nozzle may be adjusted through a universal movement to impinge theblast directionally to the distributor plate and transversely, as shownin Fig. 6. The volume of the blast is controlled by a screw valve 22that seats on the chamfered face 23 of shank 11, each valve beingprovided with a packing box 24 and a hand wheel 25.

To obtain a distribution of fuel, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,that is to maintain a fire bed of substantially uniform thicknessthroughout the fire box area, as shown in Fig. 1, the nozzles arearranged to impinge the blast downwardly against the distributor plate 9as shown in Fig. 1. They are also arranged to provide a divergent blastwith the end nozzles projecting sideways as shown in Fig. 2, and byadjustment of the ring nut 20, the distributing effect of the blast canbe set until uniform distribution is effected. Once set, the properdistribution of the fuel will be constantly maintained.

The operation of the above described paddle and nozzle arrangement isbriefly as follows:

As shown in Fig. 6, there are four sets of paddles mounted on the driveshaft 26, each of which successively delivers a measured quantity offuel, designated by the numeral 27, to the distributor plate 9. Thereare five blast nozzles l2 which, in proportion to the width of thepaddle feed mechanism, cover an area of about 5" each, The nozzle tipsare directed downward against the distributor plate to impinge the blaston the plate, and the fuel as it is delivered either in powdered or lumpform, or both, is entrained by the blast and carried to the fire box, asshown in Fig. 2.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the fuel is agitated to a state of turbulencebetween the blasts before it is entrained by the blast. This is becauseof the impingement of the blast on the distributor plate. The blast ofall five nozzles is turned on constantly, although the force and volumeof the individual blast may be regulated by the hand wheels 26 for eachblast nozzle. In this manner, all of the fuel that is delivered by thefeed mechanism is projected into the fire box from one side to theother.

It is especially noted that the primary object of the invention is tosubject the fuel, or other solid or powderous particles for which thisfeeding method may be suited, to a violent agitation or turbulence inthe feeding end of the distributing mechanism, and then project itforwardly and evenly over the receiving area.

By impinging a series of blasts on the distributor plate with adjacentblast jets, so spaced as to effect an intermingling of the blasts, sucha state of intermingling of the jets of air or steam engages the solidparticles of materials fed to the distributor plate, and subjects it toa thorough agitation before it is projected forwardly to the receivingarea. Such a directional and cooperative arrangement of blast nozzles isso effective in maintaining the materials in a state of turbulence thatthere is no accumulation of the mate'- rial on the distributor plate.

By this method of feeding and distributing fuel particles, it does notpile up at the front or rear or the sides of the fire box and noclinkers form. Furthermore, the finer fuel particles are ignited, andsome of them completely consumed before settling on the grate. Noclinkers form and the fine ash is readily sifted through the movablegrate bars by manipulation of the levers 28 shown in Fig. 1.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various-modifications may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the principles herein set forth.

I claim: I

1. A materials feeding and distributing mechanism comprising a hopper, areceiving apron beneath the hopper, a plurality of blast nozzlesarranged above and directed against said apron with adjacent nozzlesspaced to produce continuous intermingling blast over the entire apronarea, and means for feeding solid particles in measured incrementssuccessively and progressively from the one side entirely across to theother side of said apron to different areas of said blast to beentrained and projected by said blast and uniformly distributed over arelatively large receiving area.

2. A materials feeding and distributing mechanism comprising a receivingapron, a feed mechanism for progressively delivering measured incrementsof the material to successive transverse areas from one side entirelyacross to the other side of said apron, and a plurality of blast nozzlesinterposed between said apron and feed mechanism to continuously entrainthe material passing to the apron in the blast, said nozzles beingmounted for universal movement to adjust the directional application ofthe material.

3. Materials feeding and distributing mechanism comprising a hopper, areceiving apron beneath the hopper, a feeder consisting of a pluralityof axially spaced sets of feed paddles of an aggregate width to besubstantially coextensive with said apron, the paddles of each set beingangularly spaced and in staggered relation to the adjacent set wherebyupon rotation of the feeder only one blade of the paddle will measureoff and deliver an increment of the material being fed to said apron insuccessive charges progressively by the adjacent sets of paddles fromone side entirely across to the other side of said apron, and aplurality of laterally spaced blast nozzles disposed intermediate thehopper and receiving apron to provide a continuous intermingling blastover the entire apron area, said nozzles being mounted for adjustmentvertically and lat erally relative to the apron and each other.

4. Materials feeding and distributing mechanism as set forth in claim 3in which the nozzle elements have discharge slots and have ball andsocket joints for universal movement to adjust said slots relative tosaid apron and each other.

CHARLES R. BARR.

